Material moving apparatus



Sept. 30, 1947. w. uE-B'ELHOER MATERIALMQUNG APPARATUS Filed r=De.` 28,1945 4 shee'ts-sheet 1 l INVENTR v ATTORNEYS v I Sept- 30, 1947- w.UEBELHOER 24,428,131

MATERIAL MOVING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR1441/562" Habel/10er ATTORN EY Sept 30, 1947 w. ur:r.=,l:| HoER-'-MATERIAL MOVING APPARATUS Sheets-Sheet 5 'Filed Dec. 28, 1945 lNvENToRWC1/ef f (fabel/20er BY @we @m C34 ATT RNEYs Sept 30, 1947 w.ul-:BELHol-:R

I MATERIAL MOVING APPARATUS 4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed Dec. 28, 1945INVENTOR .W1/er Uebel/Ioer' BY 63u, @Wzwayvm ATTORN EYJ)` PatentedSept."30, 1947 UNITED sTA'ri-:s PATENT @ol-'ries- WalterUebelhoer,Snyder, N. Y. Application December 28, 1945,7Serial No. 637,532

This invention relates to plowing and scraping apparatus for movingsnow, earth, and analogous relatively loose materials.

The present invention provides `apparatus which may readily beassociated with any form of vehicle desired to propel theplowing kandscraping device. In the alternative, the `principles'of the inventionmay be embodied in a modied form of apparatus suitable for handoperation. In the power-operated form the vehicle with which theapparatus may be associated may take the form of a tractor or other farmvehicle, a commercial truck, a, passengerautomobile, or any otherautomotive vehicle.

According to the present invention, the appa- 13 Claims. (Cl. 37-42)ratus is structurally so arranged that the thrust forces areadvantageously distributed both with respect to the surfaces of theplowing or scraping blades themselves and with respect to the meansconnecting the apparatus with the propelling vehicle. Further, thestructural arrangement is such that a very simple and rugged plowing orscraping means is afforded.

The plowing or scraping device is so arranged that the effective plowingangles may be readily varied without in any sense affecting the inherentrigidity andpotential strength of the structure. A wide range ofadjustment is aiorded whereby a highly flexible plowing and scrapingapparatus is provided. The plowing or scraping surface comprises twomain blade components which may be adjusted to provide a V-shapedleading edge of any angle within certain limits, the limit of suchangles in one direction being a straight transverse line. Further, thetwo main blade components may be arranged in line with both componentsfacing either tcftheleft or to the right, whereby all -of the plowed orscraped material is deflected in one direction, either to the left or tothe right as desired.

A significant feature of the plowing or scraping apparatus is theprovision of a central mounting device which includes a novel centralnose or prow portion which bridges the gap which would otherwise occurcentrally between the two main blade components in certain positions ofadjustment. This bridging of the gap by the central member isaccomplished in such .manner that in all positions of adjustment theblade components together with thecentral member present a substantiallycontinuous plowing or scraping surface.

While devices of the general kind forming the subject of the presentinvention operate most eili- Ica.ciously'when used with some form ofpower propulsion means, the fundamental teachings of y "2 the" present'invention; as outlined `generally above, may be availed of in a manual`'plowing and `scraping device. In any event, theprinciples of thepresent invention are not limited torthe forms `shownby way of exampleand manymechanical departures :may be made-within the spirit and scopeof the invention, which islimitedonly as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings: i

Fig. 1 is` a top plan view of oneform of the apparatus of our inventionwith a propelling vehicle therefor shown fragmentarily; i

Fig. 2.is a. rearelevational view ofthe apparatus of Fig. 1 showndetached from the propellingvehicle;

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal cross-sectional viewon a vertical planeof the apparatus of Figs. land 2;

Fig. 4 isa detailed perspective View of the central nose or prow element0f the apparatus of Figs. 1 through 3;

Fig. 5 is a detailed longitudinal vertical crosssectional'view throughoneiof a` pair of supporting skids; l j

Fig. 6 isa fragmentaryperspective viewof alternativefluidipower meansfor effecting adjustment of the blade elements of the device;

Fig. 7 is adiagrammatic view showing therange of adjustment of theblades from their most acute V position to a straight-acrossarrangement;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the bladesarranged in line butvoblique y, for deflecting plowed or scrapedrmaterial either all to theright or all to the left;

Fig. 9 is a perspective viewof a hand plowing or scrapingdeviceembodying thel principles of the present invention;

Fig, 10 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the device of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is afurtherlfragmentary plan view of thedevice of fFig. 9 withportions broken away for vadded clearness; `and Fig. 12 is adiagrammatic view showing the effective relationship of the two bladeelements and the central nose portion when the blades are arranged intheirk most acute position of adjustment.

Throughout the several figures of the drawingsl like characters ofreference denote like parts and the numerals I 0 and II designate a pairof left and right hand plow or scraping blade elements. .as appears bestin-Fig. 2, each of the blades I0 and II is reinforced at its rear faceby outer upright channels I2, lnnerfupright channels I3, upperhorizontallyextending channels I4, lower horizontally extending centralchannels |6.

A special central upright nose or prow element is designated `Z and isshown in perspective viewed generally from the rear in Fig. 4. Theleft-hand blade has fixed thereto upper and lower pivot arms 22 and 23which may be welded or otherwise iixed in the inner upright reinforcingchannel |3. The right-hand blade likewise has upper and lower pivot arms25 and 26, similarly secured, and the prow element 20 has an upperthreaded opening 21 and a, similar coaxial lower threaded opening 3|J`(not shown) for receiving pivot screws 28 and 23 which pass jointlythrough the upper and lower pivot arms of the blades I0 and as bestshown in Fig. 2.

The specic means for securing the plowing or scraping apparatus to apropelling vehicle will vary somewhat with variations `in theconstruction ofthe propelling vehicle. By way of example, the apparatusof Figs. 1, 2, and 3 includes upper and lower transverse bars 3| and 32which may be of angular crossfsection, as shown, and secured to theiront structure of the vehicle in any desired manner, as by bolting orscrewing. Fig. 1 shows fragmentarily the front frame portion of apropelling vehicle at 33.

The left-hand blade |0 is provided Vwith upper and lower bearing yokes35 and 36 which may be welded or otherwise secured in the centralupright channel I6. Similar upper and lower bearing yokes 31 and l38,respectively, are associated with the right-handblade Each'of thebearing yokes 35 through 38 pivotally engages the forward end of a bar,the several bars being designated 4| through 44, respectively.

The upper transverse bar 3| has left and righthand brackets 46 and 41fixed to its under side in any desired manner and lower transverse bar32 is also provided with xed let't and right-hand brackets 48 and 49.Pivot screws or bolts 50 extend through the transverse bars 3| and 32and through each of the brackets 48 through 43 and through each of thebars 4| through 44 associated with the respective brackets, whereby thebars 4| through 44 are. mounted for pivotal movement about vertical axeswhich are normally xed relative to the transverse' bars 3| and 32.

With the construction so far described, it will be seen that the anglemade between blade elements IU and I may readily bei varied by merelymoving the prow element 20 forward or rearward in a longitudinaldirection, the prow elementv carrying with it the inner adjacent ends ofthe blades l0 and through co-,operatlon of the pivot arms 22, 23, 25 and28. Retention of the prow element 20 in any selected forwarder rearwardposition automatically fixes the blade elements l0 and in desiredangular position. For thus adjusting and retaining the prow element inits desired longitudinal position it is provided with a pad 53 havingapertures 54 and 55, see Fig. 4, in which are xed'the forward ends ofrearwardly extending bars designated 51 and 58, re-

spectively. i

The bars 51 and 58 have axially sliding bearing engagement in a block 60fixed within the angle which comprises transverse bar 32 as shown inFig. 3. The rear ends of bars 51 and 58 are fixed to a cross plate 52and plate 621 supports a screw 53 having collars 64 and 65 whereby thescrew is rotatable in plate 62 but held against relative .axialmovement. Screw 63 hasthreaded engagement in block 60 and collar 65thereof has a manual crank 51 fixed thereto. It Will be apchannels I5and upright,k

parent from the foregoing that rotation of screw 53v by means of crank61 will move the bars 51 and 58, and consequently the prow element 20,forwardly and rearwardly. The threaded engagement of screw 63 in block6|! provides selflocking means for automatically retaining the prowelement 28 in adjusted position.

The front face of prow element 20 comprises a. portion of a surface ofrevolutiongenerated about the vertical axis upon which blade'sd ll andpivot during adjustment. By virtue of this arrangement the blades I0 andwill always terminate at their inner edges in tangency with the frontface of the plow element as indicated schematically in Figs. 'I and 12.Fig. 12 shows the relatively small deviation from a true V even with theblades at'their most acute angle of adjustment. Fig. 7 shows the bladesin full lines when adjusted to extend at right angles to thelongitudinal and in dot and dash lines in their most acute position ofadjustment.

It will be noted that bars 4| through 44 have rear openings 10 and 1|which may be alternatively engaged with pivot screws 50. These openingsare employed when it is desired to arrange the blades in a straight lineobllquely for a sort of skiving action whereby material being plowed orscraped is diverted or deflected either entirely to the left or entirelyto the right, depending on the setting of the blades.

Fig. 8 shows in full lines the arrangement for deflection to the left.This is achieved by engaging the right-hand Divot pins 50 with the rearopenings 1| of bars 43 and 44, the left-hand bars 4| and 42 being leftin the positions illustrated in Figs. 1 through 3. For deflection to theright the blades are placed in the dot and dash line position of Fig. 8by associating the openings 1l) of the left-hand bars 4| and 42 withpivot pins 50, the right-hand bars 43 and 44 being left in the positionsillustrated in Figs. 1 through 3.

A pair of supporting skid elements 14 and 15 are provided, and in Figs.1 through 3 are secured in the lower bearing yokes 31 and 38,respectively, by means of studs 16, as shown in detail in Fig. 5. Thevertical disposition of skids 14 and 15 and the eiective groundclearance of the blades ||l and may be readily adjusted by manipulationof nuts 88 and 8| which are provided upon the studs 16.

Fig. 6 shows fragmentarily an alternative arrangement for adjusting prowelement 20. In Fig. 6 bars 84 and 85 correspond to the bars 51 and 58 ofFigs. 1 through 3 and rear plate 88 corresponds to the plate 62 of theformer embodiment. Transverse bar 81 and bearing block 88 securedthereto correspond to the elements 32 and 60, respectively, ofFigs. 1through 3. In place of screw 63 rear plate 86- has iixed thereto a pushrod 9U which is operated by a conventional piston (not shown) movableaxially in a hydraulic cylinder 9|, the latter having fluid control-inlet and outlet passages as indicated schematically at 92 and 93,respectively, in Fig. 6, The specific means for applying and controllinghydraulic or other iiuid pressure is conventional and need not befurther delineated. Fluid pressure activated forward and rearwardmovement of bars 84 and 85 to adjust prow element 20, and accordinglyblades lll and l, can thus be accomplished in an obvious manner.

Figs. 9 through l1 show an' alternative form of the invention whereinthe underlying principles are embodied in a manual plowing or scrapingdevice. As shown in Fig. 9, the manual 1 device may comprise left andright-hand plow or scraper blades and |0|.

, A central nose or prow element |02 is provided as in the previousembodiment, although as shown in Fig. 9. this elementmay be of sheetmetal and has a semicircular band |03, whose ends are weldedy orotherwise secured to the rear face of the prow element.` The blade |00has fixed thereto pivot arms and |06 corresponding to the pivot arms lofthe first-described embodiment and the blade |0| has similar pivot arms|01 and |08. The several pivoted arms are pivotally attached to theupper and lower sides of band |03 as shown in Fig. 9.

As in the previous embodiment, the substantially vertical axis extendingthrough the pivotal connections of arms |05 and |08 with band |03comprises an axis of generation for the surface of revolution whichdefines the front yface of prow element |02.

The relative positions of pivotal adjustment of the blades |00 and |0|are maintained by means of tie rods ||0 and respectively. The forwardends of tie rods ||0 and may engage loops |2 and I3 fixed to the rearsides of blades 00 and |0|, respectively, whereby the tie rods havelimited universally swivelling movement relative to the blades. The rearends of tie rods ||0 and may be provided with eye formations and a nutand bolt connection ||5 may be disposed in any one of a series oftransverse openings ||6 formed in a handle memberA 1. As shown in Fig.10, the bolt and nut assembly ||5 connects both tie rods jointly so thatthe blades |00 and |0| are in similar positions of adjustment. However,separate bolt and nut. connections may be employed to associate the eyesof each of the tie rods ||0 and with different openings H6, if desired.f

Handle may be mounted by threaded connection, as at ||8, with a threadedprojection of a stem element H9. One end of stem element ||9 has pivotalconnection with a pair of ears fixed to the rear face of prow element|02 as at |20, and the threaded opposite end of stem element ||'9 passesthrough an arcuate slot |22 formed along band element |03. Stem element||9 has an enlarged flange |24 which engages against the inner face ofband |03 and a nut element |25 engaging the threads of stem ||0 may betightened to clamp the band |03 between flange |24 and nut |25 to nx thehandle element in any desired position of adjustment along slot Thispermits the angle of inclination of handle to be adjusted with respectto a given disposition of the blades |00 and |0| and the prow element|02. Such adjustment is desirable to suit the device to users of varyingheight and also to change the effective angle that the plowing andscraping elements make with the vertical, as viewed from the side.

As in the embodiment first described, the blades |00 and |0| of thepresent form of the invention maintain tangency with the prow element|02 from top to bottom regardless of the position of angular adjustmentwhich the blades occupy with respect to each other.

What is claimed is:

1. Material moving apparatus comprising a pair of generally uprightlblade elements and a central prow element, said blade elements beingpivotally connected to said prow element for angular adjustment about asubstantially central upright axis, a propelling element, link meanspivotally connected to said blade elements f 6 at opposite sides ofsaidiprow element and extending rearwardly to pivotal engagement withSaid propelling element,. and means engaging `betweensaid propellingelement and said prow element and operable to move said prowelement.relatively forwardly and rearwardly and thus adjust the angle betweenthe blade elements.

2. Material moving apparatus comprising a pair of generally uprightblade elements and a central pro-w element, said blade elements beingpivotally connected `to said prow element for angular kadjustment abouta substantially central upright axis, a propelling element, meansconnected vto said blade elements at opposite sides of said prow elementand extending rearwardly for engagement with said propelling element,and means engaging between said propelling element and said prow elementand operable to move said prow element relatively forwardly andrearwardly and thus adjust the angle between the blade elements. f

3. Material moving apparatus comprising a pair of generally uprightblade elements and a central prow element, said blade elements beingpivotally connected to said prow element for angular adjustment vabout asubstantially central upright axis, a propelling element, a link elementpivotally connected to each blade element latere-uy of said prow elementand extending rearwardly to pivotal Aengagement with said propeilingelement, and vmeans engaging between said propelling element and saidprow element and operable to move said prow element relatively forwardlyand rearwardly and thus adjust the angle between the blade elements, therear pivotal engagement of saidy link elements with said propellingelement being independently adjustable lengthwise of said link elementsto dispose said blade elements selectively in symmetrical orunsymmetrical relative positions.

4. Material moving apparatus comprising a central prow element, a pairof blade elements projecting laterally therefrom and mounted for pivotaladjustment about a common upright central axis, said prow element havinga forward face comprising a surface of revolution generated about saidcentral, axis and following the contour of the inner edges of saidblades whereby a substantially continuous plowing surface is presentedregardless of the position of pivotal ad- 6. Material moving apparatuscomprising a.

central prow element, a pair of blade elements projecting laterallytherefrom and mounted for pivotal adjustment about a common uprightcentral axis, said prow element having a forward face comprising asurface of revolution generated about said central axis and followingthe contour of the inner edges of said blades and said inner edges beingsubstantially tangent to said forward face whereby a substantiallycontinuous position of pivotal adjustment of said blades.

7. Material moving apparatus comprising` a central prow element, apair'of blade elements projecting laterallytherefromV and mounted forpivotal adjustment about a common upright central axis, the forwardfacesof said. blade element being convex in vertlcalcross-section, Said prowelement having a forward face comprising a surface of revolutiongenerated about said central axis and following the 4convex contour ofthe inner edges of said blades and said rinner edges beingsubstantially:tangent to said forward face whereby a substantially continuous plowingsurface is presented ;regard1ess of the position of pivotal adjustmentofsaid blades.

8. Material moving apparatus comprisinga pair of generally upright bladeelements and a central prow element, saidv blade elements beingpivotally connected to said` prowelement for angular adjustment about asubstantially central upright axis, a propelling element, meansconnected to said blade elements at opposite sides of said prow elementand extending rearwardly to engagement withysajid propelling element,and 'self-lockingscrew meansengaging between said propelling element andsaid prow element and operableto move said prow element relativelyforwardly and rearwardly and thus adjust the angle between the bladeelements.

9. Material moving apparatus comprising a pair of generally uprightblade elements and a central prow element, said blade elements beingpivotally connected to said prow element for angular adjustment about. asubstantially central upright axis, a propelling element, meansconnected to said blade elements at opposite sides of said prow elementand extending rearwardly to engagement with said propelling element, anduid motor means engaging between said propeiling element and said prowelement and operable to move said prow element relatively forto movesaid prow element relatively forwardly and rearwardly and thus adjustthe angle bewardly and rearwardly andthus adjust the angle t between theblade elements.

10. Material moving apparatus comprising a pair of generally uprightblade elements and a central prow element, said blade elements beingpivotally connected to said prow element for angular adjustment about asubstantially central upright axis, a manual propelling handle extendingrearwardly from said prow element, link means connected to said bladeelements at opposite sides of said prow element rand extendingrearwardly to engagement with said handle, said link means being adaptedto be secured to said handle at various positions therealong wherebyktween the blade elements.

11. Material moving apparatus comprising a vpair of generally uprightblade elements and a. centralprow element. said 4blade elements beingpivotally connected to said prow element for angular adjustment about asubstantially central upright axis, a manual propelling handle extendingrearwardly from .saidy prow element, link means connected to said bladeelements at'opposite sides of said prow element and extending rearwardlyto engagement with said handle, and means engaging between said prowelement and said handle for adjusting the angle of the handle relativetothe prow element about a transverse horizontal axis.

12. In a snow plow, a central member having an arcuate face portion, apair of wings extending laterally from and in tangential relationftosaid face portion, means securing saidwings to said member for pivotalmovement about the axis of the arcuate face portion, whereby'v during'relative movement between said member and said wings-the tangentialrelation of the wings and themember is maintained, and means for ei'-fecting relative movement between the wings and `the central member.

13. In a snow plow a central member having an arcuate face portion, apair of wings extendking laterally from and in tangential relation tosaid face portion, means swingably securing the inner edge portion ofthe wings to the axis of the arcuate face portion whereby the tangentialrelation of the wing to the member during relative movement therebetweenis maintained, brace means pivotally secured to the outer portion of thewings to permit movement of the blades, and means connected to thecentral member and operable to effect a relative movement between thewings, the central member and the braces, whereby the wings may beangularly disposed to each other to provide a substantially V-shapedplow. WALTER UEBELHOER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

